Download - Vile Shop Abus' case stuns village
A WOMAN who claims to have en-dured vile sexual taunts and vio-lence at the hands of an ‘adored’co-worker has been awarded a con-troversial pay-out that has stunnedthe Aston Clinton community.
Lorraine Arnott, a 30-year-oldformer sales assistant, won £6,550as compensation for prolonged sexdiscrimination including sexualharassment that she says droveher to self-harm and mental ill-ness during the 44 weeks that sheworked at Premier News conven-ience store in Aston Clinton
But the village shop ordered topay out remains defiant that ‘goodMuslim boys’ Imran and Ayaz Hus-sain are not guilty and relied onshining character testimonialsfrom a queue of community mem-bers to refute the claims at the Wat-ford tribunal hearing on April 1.
Lorraine started as a part-timeemployee at the family store in Oc-tober 2009 and resigned in August2010 shortly after claiming that be-ing forced into an arm-lock by Im-ran was the ‘last straw.’
She said: “It started in January.I was perpetually harassed aboutmy appearance by Imran. At firsthe said things like ‘you need tolose weight, tone up and get a boobjob or you will single for the rest ofyour life. I am a man, I know thesethings.’ Then it became a barrage
of abuse every day. Once he toldme to lift my arms up and said ‘doyou realise that we sell women’srazors?’ He even told customers
that I was wearing my bedroomcurtains to work and that they hadbeen ripped by my cats.
“He took my phone and deleted
things from it and when I tried toget it back he got me in a tight arm-lock. I subsequently had to havephysiotherapy as a direct result ofthe assault, which was caught onCCTV.”
Lorraine began to cut her arms‘to ribbons’ in February when sheclaims her plea for help went ig-nored.
“I approached Ayaz Hussain,my line manager, on a daily basisabout Imran’s behaviour. Insteadof listening to my pleas, he grabbedmy bum.
“Later when I was working alonewith him he pointed at my nipplesand asked what they were andasked me if I used vibrators.
“He was the manager, so I felttrapped but at the same time Icould not afford to leave. They areall family and stick together likeglue. I turned to self-harming to re-lease the inner pain. I was cuttingmy arms on broken glass.
“I felt utterly degraded and myconfidence was severely knocked.I didn’t have the self-confidenceto go to the police, I couldn’t dealwith it.
“It was in July that Imran toldme that my face looked a cat’s a**e.I then handed in my resignation.”
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Stoke Mandeville, whereMichael Munn died
Little girl whocan’t eat foodis fighting fate
‘Vile shop abuse’case stuns village
NHS Trusts voice sorrow over hospital suicide
by Kate [email protected]
01296 619771
A LITTLe girl with an agonisingincurable disease is fighting tobe just as normal as her friends,despite not knowing if she has afuture as they do.
ella Campbell, of Bedgrove, isfive years old and has spent hershort life coping with an incurablelife-threatening condition calledeosinophilic gastrointestinaldisease.
eosinophilic disorders occurwhen eosinophils, a type of whiteblood cell, are found in above-normal amounts in various partsof the body.
When ella’s body encountersallergens these eosinophilsmultiply in abnormal amountsand instead of fighting theharmful allergy they do theopposite, causing inflammationand tissue damage instead.
If ella eats food, her bodyviolently reacts by causingextreme pain, vomiting anddiarrohea.
As a result, ella is fedhypoallergenic elementalformulas through a permanentfeeding tube in her stomachbecause it hurts too much for toeat.
Mum Karen, says that ella haslearnt to be like any other littlegirl. “She understands everythingreally well. She’s so brave and takeeverything in her stride.
“She now looks really normalbecause the tube is under herschool dress and people tend tothink she is OK and that there’snothing wrong with her but sheis in pain she just doesn’t walkaround screaming.
At school she can’t do what
Lorraine Arnott received £6,550 pay-out for sexual discrimination at a store
turn to page 3 >
Ordeal made me self-harm, says victim who won£6,550 – but shopkeeper stands by accused staff
Former directors charged over £2mMoD fraud allegationsTWO former directors of an Aylesburyhaulage firm have been charged byMinistry of Defence police with analleged £2 million fraud.
Frederick Baxter, 61, and GeraldBaxter, 34, are accused of defraudingthe MoD during their time at thehelm of Baxters InternationalRemovals Ltd, which is currently
based in Brunel Road.Investigators charged the pair with
fraudulent trading on Wednesday.The allegations relate to a period
between 2002 and 2007, when thecompany had a contract with theMoD to move equipment.
Both men, who no longer work forthe firm, are set to appear at City Of
London Magistrates Court later thismonth.
A spokesman from the MoD policetold the Herald: “We can confirmthat the MoD police on June 1, 2011,charged two men with fraudulenttrading.
“The charges relate to allegationsthat they defrauded the MoD of
approximately £2 million betweenJuly 2002 and January 2007.
“They are currently on bail toappear before City of LondonMagistrates Court on Thursday, June16.”
Investigators claim that thegovernment department wasovercharged by the company.
BUCKS health trusts have offeredtheir condolences to the familyof Michael Munn who died afterjumping from scaffolding at StokeMandeville Hospital.
An inquest in High Wycombefound that the 45-year-old took hisown life by jumping from WardNine on October 25 last year. Apost mortem carried out at thetime revealed he died as a result ofmultiple injuries.
The coroner found that nobodywas at fault for Mr Munn’s death.
A spokesman for Bucks HealthcareNHS Trust said: “The Trustexpresses its sincere condolencesto the family of Mr Munn. Weundertook our own internal
investigation following the incidentand our findings helped us to puttogether an action plan.
“The Trust already has policiesand procedures in place for patientswith mental health conditions andcontinues to work with OxfordHealth to ensure the safety of thesepatients.”
Mr Munn had been admitted tohospital and undergone a psychiatricassessment after attempting suicide
by cutting his wrists.A spokesman for Oxford Health
NHS Foundation Trust, which isresponsible for patients in Bucks,said: “We take all incidents veryseriously and each case is fullyinvestigated by the Trust. Thisensures that any learning can beimplemented to maintain standardsand high levels of patient care. Wesend our sincerest sympathies to thefamily of Mr Munn.”
by David [email protected]
01296 619762
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Courageous: Ella with brother Adam
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